LawCentralAlbertaa website of the

Minimum wage, holiday pay, being laid off or fired, maternity leave, discrimination, starting a union: these are just some of the issues that arise in the workplace. This section deals with laws about employment standards, employment insurance, human rights, temporary foreign workers and unionized workplaces.

The resources on this page were hand-picked by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta's staff as a good place to start.

Suggested Resources

LawNow is a bi-monthly digital public legal education magazine which has been published by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta for almost 40 years. Its articles and columns are written in plain language and take a practical look at how the law relates to the every day lives of Canadians. In each issue, LawNow’s employment law column takes a look at a specific topic in this area of law and explains it clearly and concisely.

These FAQs are provided by the Canadian Legal FAQs, a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. These FAQs provide information about employment law in Alberta and are divided into 12 sections: General; The difference between employees and independent contractors; Contract of Employment; Employment Standards; Pay; Overtime; Hours of Work; General Holidays & General Holiday Pay; ; Vacations & Vacation Pay; Maternity & Parental Leave; Termination & Temporary Layoff; and Enforcement of Labour Standards.

Rights at Work is a collection of resources developed by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta and funded by the Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund. The resources make use of real‐life scenarios to demonstrate Alberta legislation that protects workers.Resources include tipsheet, videos, quizzes and articles.

These "How old do I have to be?" FAQs are provided by the Canadian Legal FAQs, a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. They provide answers for youth about age-related issues under various topics: family, criminal, medical and health related, legal and financial, activities (such as driving), school and work.

Alberta Resources

The Alberta Labour Relations Board is the independent and impartial tribunal responsible for the day-to-day application and interpretation of Alberta's labour laws. The Board administers and interprets the Labour Relations Code and other laws focused on unionized workplaces. The Board actively encourages dispute resolution, employs officers for investigations and makes major policy decisions.

This booklet is provided by the Alberta Human Rights Commission and Alberta Employment and Immigration. Becoming a Parent in Alberta answers frequently asked questions about: human rights protection for pregnant workers; entitlements, rights and responsibilities of working parents-to-be; leave that expectant mothers may take for health reasons during pregnancy and childbirth; the difference between maternity and parental leave and benefits; and how to apply for maternity and parental leave and benefits. (PDF - 33 pages, 2006)

The Calgary Workers' Resource Centre (CWRC) is a small team of workers' advocates based in Calgary, Alberta (Canada). They help Calgarians understand and access the rights and benefits they are entitled to as workers under a variety of employment-related legislations.

Handy guide to terminology pertinent human rights law, privacy, revealing gender identity to other employees, use of bathrooms and other issues regarding accommodation of trans-identified persons in the workplace.

This information sheet is produced by the Government of Alberta and offers basic information about some of the laws in the Alberta Employment Standards Code. Includes information about wages, days off, overtime and statutory holidays in an easy-to-read format. (PDF - 4 pages)

Employment Standards staff administer and enforce the Employment Standards Code, which establishes minimum standards of employment for employers and employees in the workplace.This site contains information on the minimum standards of employment for employers and employees, including payment of earnings, minimum wage, hours of work and rest periods, overtime and overtime pay, vacations and vacation pay, general holidays and holiday pay, maternity and parental leave and termination of employment. There is also a section for filing a complaint.

In this issue of English Express you will learn about human rights in Alberta with examples and illustrations. English Express uses simple and easy to understand English for anyone to understand their publication.(PDF - 23 pages)

This publication is for people new to their workplace role. You could be a young person applying for your very first job. You could be an immigrant applying for your first job in Alberta. Or you may be a small business owner or manager new to the process of hiring or supervising staff. Whatever your role in the workplace, the laws of Alberta and Canada have rules about hiring, working and dismissing or laying off employees.

This online resource from the Alberta Human Rights Commission explains how the Alberta Human Rights Act applies to the workplace. Sections include information for employers, information for employees, information for trade unions and occupational associations when they are representing employees and FAQs.

This handbook is produced by the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre, It is presented in a question and answer format that deals with legal and other employment issues faced by youth in Alberta: employment standards, discrimination and harassment, work and age, salary, benefits, hours of work and breaks, overtime, safety and working conditions, holiday, and being fired. Includes a resource section and learning exercises. (updated minimum wage figures in 2014).

This division of Alberta Employment and Immigration will help temporary foreign workers to learn about their rights and find solutions for problem situations. Booklets and brochures are available for employers and for workers. (Guide for Employees is available in 13 languages.) A walk-in office and a helpline are offered for assistance.

Losing a job is very traumatic: financially and emotionally. Here are some of the things you might want to know if this happens to you. This tipsheet produced by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) informs Albertans about their rights when they have been terminated from their employment.

This publication is for workers who want to know more about employment rules in the Alberta workplace. It discusses legislation covering workers, their rights before starting a job, their rights and responsibilities on the job, and leaving the job temporarily or permanently. Information is provided on employment standards, workplace health and safety, human rights and workers' compensation. Key contacts and resources for Alberta employees are also included. (PDF – 40 pages)

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CPLEA has developed the Renting Basics Guide, a new easy read guide to renting in Alberta. You can download the guide for free at the CPLEA store. Educators, settlement agencies and community organizations are welcome to order print copies of the guide while supplies last. CPLEA’s Laws for Landlords and Tenants in Alberta program is generously supported […]

LawNow is pleased to announce the creation of a new Department, called New Resources at CPLEA, which will be a permanent addition to each issue. Each post will highlight new materials at CPLEA. All resources are free and available for download. We hope that this will raise awareness of the many resources that CPLEA produces […]